Mumbai, February 27 – In a recent episode of the quiz reality show, "Wheel of Fortune," host and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar took a moment to reflect on a modern-day habit that concerns phone addiction.
He pointed out how watching a single reel or videos on a mobile phone can consume nearly six hours of screen time, calling it a trap for children.
Akshay engaged in a deep conversation with contestants Akash Singh, Priyanshi Singh, and Prateek Chaturvedi about persuasion, technology, and parenting in the digital age.
The conversation deepened when Akshay questioned Priyanshi about the dominance of social media apps, asking the audience, "How many parents feel that their children are addicted?" To which one person from the audience said, "Sir, nowadays, children only eat food while looking at their phones."
Responding to the parents' concern, Akshay stressed that parents today need to introspect on the entire situation and went on to say that it is parents who put mobile phones in their children's hands at an early age.
He also emphasized that devices at a young age for kids are a trap. He further shared a worrying anecdote about his friend who had shared with him how continuous usage of mobile affected his diabetes.
"Akshay bhai, for the past year, he has been watching reels for 6 hours every day, and his diabetes is now quite advanced. Many people are being admitted for digital rehabilitation. And if you feel that your children are addicted, you need to take action. It is not the children's fault; it is up to you to tell them. You need to be aware of the early signs, and you need to understand them. They are children; you need to understand them."
Akshay also drew a parallel with Native Americans, emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness and self-control.
Akshay cited an example from Native American communities (historically referred to as "Red Indians"), saying, "They gather around a fire at night, and everyone sits in a circle and talks, sings, or sleeps. One child gets too close to the fire, and he starts to burn. The adults see this and try to pull him away, but he resists. Eventually, he gets burned, and he cries. This happens every year, and he still plays with the fire."
He concluded by saying, "But you don't need to teach me. Just do what you think is right. If you don't, then you are the ones who are wrong. You are the parents, and you are the ones who should be more understanding."
